As part of securing the next phase of the show for future generations, and in line with the BBC’s Charter and Agreement requirements, the BBC has announced it will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year.
The news follows the cancellation of the planned Christmas special.
Here’s the BBC statement in full, reproduced below. Let’s be absolutely clear – it in no way means the show has been “cancelled” as some doomsayers have interpreted it.
An update on the future of Doctor Who
Today we’re announcing an update on plans for the future of Doctor Who.
As part of securing the next phase of the show for future generations, and in line with the BBC’s Charter and Agreement requirements, the BBC will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year. Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC and this tender underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who ensuring audiences will enjoy the show for years to come.
“Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC and this tender underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who ensuring audiences will enjoy the show for years to come.
“After careful consideration, the BBC, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf have collectively decided not to go ahead with the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas episode. This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans, but in order to set the show up for future series, it was decided that rather than bridge the gap with a one off special, we are choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show which ensures that when the TARDIS lands once more, it does so in all its glory.
“The previously announced new Doctor Who animation series for CBeebies is currently in production.”
“Details of the tender will be announced in due course.
“The BBC retains all IP in Doctor Who. BBC Studios will continue to lead the global distribution of Doctor Who as well as licensing, consumer products, digital and immersive experiences on behalf of the BBC.”
In terms of potential timescales, for comparison, Casualty was put out to tender by the BBC in May 2025. BBC Studios were awarded the contract in December 2025 and the next planned filming block is due to begin in September 2026, based on an advertisement for a director.
Russel T. Davies: “GOODBYE from me to Doctor Who“
Commenting on the announcement on Instagram, former showrunner Russell T. Davies said: “And so GOODBYE from me to Doctor Who but HELLO to a big new future for the show, as the BBC announces it’s putting the show out to tender.
“As a result, there won’t be a Christmas Special – we only cooked that up to guarantee a future when no one knew what would happen, but now we do know, there’s no need for it. You’ll have to wait a bit longer for new Doctor Who… but you’ll be waiting for MORE Doctor Who than a one-off. So it’s worth it!
“For the record: there was no script, I never wrote it, and no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor. You may disagree; fine, sit in that chair and wait to be proved right. You’ll wait a lonnng time 晴
“Now I’m as excited as anyone to see what comes next! Will they keep the theme tune? Will they lose the blue box? Will they bring back the Drahvin?! It’s all up for grabs, which is so Doctor Who, exciting and unpredictable and new!
“Here comes the future, vworp vworp ️ @bbcdoctorwho ♥️
Bad Wolf: A Show That Shines
Commenting on the changes ahead for Doctor Who, production company Bad Wolf issued the following short statement, accompanied by a short video:
“It has been a joy and a privilege to have been at the helm of the TARDIS alongside the brilliant Russell T Davies. Doctor Who is – and always will be – a show that shines light into the darkness and it has been an absolute honour to have been its torch bearer for 26 episodes with the BBC and Disney+.
“Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey through Space and Time and most of all – thank you to the fans.
“Allons-y Alonso!”
❤️❤️➕
This item was updated on Thursday 11th June to add Bad Wolf’s statement and add tender information
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Animation, Digital Media, Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, Science Fiction, Television
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Hi John
I’m pleased with this announcement.
After all the controversy of the last two seasons with RTD back at the helm it is best to get some new blood in charge going foreword. Let’s get back to good old sci-fi/horror based stories with cliff-hangers and drop the LGBT agenda
Yeah, because there was no “LGBT agenda” in RTD’s first run. Have you watched it?
Your hate is showing, and it’s not a good look.
Good point, well made, François.
Doctor Who has always carried tolerant messaging.. if it were removed, it wouldn’t be Doctor Who.
Now John, you and I were both around in 1989 and know how empty these promises are.
1989 was very different to today, although the environment for creating new TV shows is much more complex now. In 1989, despite the opinions of many fans and the efforts of the then production team, Doctor Who was regarded as a failed show by the BBC. Its commercial success since its revival, despite recent woes, remains self evident, and I’m sure there will be tenders for the show, some more credible than others.
That the BBC has a love hate relationship with science fiction is, however, surely to even the most casual of observers, also rather apparent. Such shows are by their very nature inevitably seen as expensive to mount, and carry with them the danger of failing to appeal to a mainstream audience, despite often gaining a very dedicated one that then claims ownership of the series and then seeks to “own” it based on their own and diverse perception of what that show is, and what it means to them. While in the majority of the audience that has its positives, sadly, we have also seen those who feel that if they shout loud enough, their view will best shape the show’s future.
Such voices would do well to take note of, in my own view, Doctor Who’s core message since its beginning, of tolerance and freedom.
Constructive criticism is, in my personal view, far more welcome and of greater import than the views of those whose commentary is akin to the kind of tribalism and hatred that diminishes us as a species, born, perhaps, of fear of the unknown. Another thing Doctor Who has always sought to challenge.
Well said, John!